Strat Copiers

[Yen]

Is anyone else sick of this? Everyone is using the same unit positions! So far, I've seen three types of setups. And they've been used over. And over. And over. And over.

Does anyone have any actual skill..?

[Cragspyder]

I've made my own setup, which is very flexible, and includes an enchantress but NO wards. :) . I don't think i'm alone here when it comes to making your own strategy.

Besides, some strats are good ideas (side massing being only one example) and should be emulated to a certain degree (but not copied tile for tile, is that what you've been seeing?).

You may be right on this though, and that's why I wrote a ward-bashing piece in the Ward thread, cause there was too much pro-ward stuff in there. I'm hoping that things like that will encourage people to at least think about their strategy choices, instead of just copying. It MIGHT work, who knows?

Keep in mind that not everyone is very good at strategy, or is new. Maybe they need a starting point?

[sublime121]

I myself have won a few battles with people who seem to believe that the wars is an 'all-powerful' unit. when the battle gets down to the last stages, they will go and hide by the protection of their ward, calling out from behind; 'i say we call it a draw because ill just stay in my ward'. Well, it must come as an awful surprise to them when I move in with a healthy knight and attack. They attack with their ward, and boom, you're free to do as you please for another 4 turns!

[AzN_GuY]

lol, i was here first, my formation's original :-p

anyways, it's not like you have a patent on the formation... Beat the people using the same formation, show them that there's better out there :) When they lose, they'll change formations.

Besides, proper tactical smarts make any formation infinitely stronger anyhow... it doesnt matter how good your formation is if the player sux.

[Xarr]

Originally posted by AzN_GuY
... it doesnt matter how good your formation is if the player sux.

I have to say that isnt quite true...
im not the greatest strategest (not that bad, just not great) but my formation has ALWAYS been the winning factor for me.
Anywho, i'd like to see a USEABLE formation that doesn't use wards. i feel they're necessary for preventing early attacks on you're witch and cleric, plus help prevent a early witch run.

[AzN_GuY]

lol, how about that default one? ;)

[Hydrant]

I have never seen my setup copied

[Cragspyder]

Originally posted by Xarr
I have to say that isnt quite true...
im not the greatest strategest (not that bad, just not great) but my formation has ALWAYS been the winning factor for me.
Anywho, i'd like to see a USEABLE formation that doesn't use wards. i feel they're necessary for preventing early attacks on you're witch and cleric, plus help prevent a early witch run.

I don't think you've been looking hard enough, Xarr. There are plenty of ways to win without using wards. I've done it at least ten times in games that have actually been played, not surrendered. I've already written a large post on the weaknesses of wards, and though I haven't been playing for a long time, I'd like to think that I know what I'm doing. My personal setup is far more versatile then any ward-using formation and I believe that versitility is key to any strategy game. Wards might work for some people but, no offense, it's slightly ignorant to just claim that you can't win without wards, which is what you basically said in your post.

Try a non-ward setup for a few games and see how you do. I'm willing to brook argument on the matter but try not to generalize so much.

[Bills]

So far I’d say 99 percent of everyone I have faced uses a rush tactic, if anyone masters a defensive position and lets people come to them I bet they’ll go on a huge tear till people adapt.

Later on in the game a Ward is almost a dead unit.

[Aro23r]

In my experience, a barrier ward is much better long term, but a lighteningward is good early to remove spell casters early.

But anyone who has mastered the use of an enchanter doesn't need any wards, they can just paralyze and destroy at will.

[LondonJack]

Haven't seen anyone using my setup, it has some standard elements, cleric in the back, light ward up front (off center by one space, to support my left side). Also use barrier, which can be a lifesaver sometimes, but most of the time is just a wall, which has its uses as well. Overall though, my setup seems to be as uncommon as a build can be considering the current variety/availability of units. Of course since gold memberships aren't the majority of players and i use 2 scouts and a frost golem, can't really expect my set to be too common.

[AzN_GuY]

i think it was aro who had a defensive formation implemented.. he used his 2 snipers and a big wall basically... knights just arent easy to kill :-p

largely i try to draw the enemy into me and i let my lightning ward play an active enough role that it ends up getting sacrificed...

[Wizen]

The ward for me is purely positional, it allows me to move in and out of peoples front without fear of being flanked or followed

[Hydrant]

i play too offensively for my Ward setup... I like to attack but I have a good defensive setup...

but I just dont have enough good offensive units to justify an offensive game

its quite frustrating

[Hashish_Scout]

but I like to put it up way up front to kill the other guy's ward. If I shoot at him with my ward, chances are he'll do the same. Giving me a turn to do what I want.

[jaydude6]

sounds good.
personally i've already gotten rid of my barrier ward (just when i learned how to use it good)
i'm actually going to take out my lightning ward (most likely)
personally I like making a hole and drillling to your weakspot...
every unit where it can do its best, and not one cluster
took a while to realise this though (3 losses and 27 wins)
personally i'd agree with the "no skill" though... i have my witch just ready for those with no set defense, or a bad one
edit... ok... i'm about to lose because i took out my lightning ward.. it's going back

[Hashish_Scout]

Yeah, I had a lightning-free period too. It didn't work...